Hawaii State Department of Education Superintendent Christina Kishimoto and the DOE staff are working now to determine how to reopen schools. The target date for reopening is August 4. But reopening will be a challenge. The DOE has now developed guidelines for schools which include physical spacing between student work spaces, no buffet lines but individually plated meals, frequent cleaning and sanitizing of surfaces, and of course, hand washing.
Click here for the State DOE reopening guidelines.
Right now, all classes are online. The question is, what will happen as schools reopen? The DOE wants input from families on what capabilities exist in the home relative to wireless and computer access, and how distance learning — online learning — has worked out during this time where it was the only way for classes to proceed.
Parents and guardians of students enrolled at any Hawaii public or charter school during school year 2019-20 are invited to take 15 minutes to complete the survey (one survey per child) now until June 30, 2020. The survey is available in English, Ilokano, Chuukese, Tagalog and Marshallese.
Those who complete the survey will have the opportunity to enter a prize drawing for a new iPad or Chromebook. Once the survey is submitted, a thank you message will appear with a link to enter the drawing.
Survey results are intended to help HIDOE and schools better understand the progression of distance learning and areas of need across the state. Your feedback is essential in planning for the new school year.
Survey questions can be viewed here: English, Ilokano, Chuukese, Tagalog, Marshallese.
The DOE says all surveys are completely confidential — no one at the school, complex area or state office will be able to connect responses back to the individuals.
